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May 3, 2006

Peru’s Flores admits election defeat

by Sam Savage

LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - Conservative lawmaker Lourdes
Flores, whom investors saw as the best candidate for Peru's $75
billion economy, admitted defeat on Wednesday in the first
round of the country's April 9 election after a fight for a
runoff place.

Almost all the ballots have been tallied from the April 9
vote and there are too few left to give Flores an advantage
over former President Alan Garcia, officials said.

Humala won the first round with 30.62 percent, or 3.75
million votes, but failed to achieve the majority needed to
avoid a second round between the top two finishers. Garcia
followed with 24.32 percent, or 2.98 million votes.

Conservative lawmaker Lourdes Flores, whom investors saw as
the best candidate for Peru's $75 billion economy, was third
with 23.80 percent, or 2.92 million votes.